Lakers Rumors: Writer Proposes Trade to Finally Get Buddy Hield in LA
As we sit here, we're in the thick of the NBA offseason.
The draft is over. So is Summer League. Free agency? That's still going but some notable names have found their next destinations. Which means there's one main thing left on the ledger.
Trade season!
The Los Angeles Lakers roster looks pretty set after the draft and re-signing Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura, along with bringing new names into the fold.
But that doesn't mean that things can't change between now and October.
The Lakers could always improve their three-point shooting, and one name that always seems to be linked to LA is Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
And Bleacher Report put forward one trade idea for every team, and their Lakers deal sees Hield finding his way to the City of Angels.
The swap is a three-team trade, and the terms are as follows:
LA would get Hield, forward Daniel Theis, and a 2026 second round pick.
The Pacers would acquire forwards John Collins, Jarred Vanderbilt, and rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Lastly, the Utah Jazz would see guard D'Angelo Russell move two states to the east, along with getting a 2025 second rounder from the Pacers.
Breathe.
As to whether that trade would actually work out for Los Angeles, I see them giving up way too much talent, even for as good a shooter as Hield is.
If they were to trade away both Russell and Hood-Schifino, then the Lakers' point guard spot would be an immediate and glaring question heading into next season. They could try to move Austin Reaves there, but I wouldn't see that working out given Reaves penchant for scoring.
Also, Vanderbilt's a promising forward for LA after he made an impact off the bench last season, and I wouldn't be comfortable with them moving the longer Vanderbilt for an older, offensively limited Theis.
Additionally, Theis isn't nearly as athletic on the defensive end as Vanderbilt, so that would be another hole.
I can definitely understand LA wanting to make a move for Hield, and Indiana would probably make the cost steep at this time, but a deal like that would be too much for the Lakers to let go as far as I'm concerned.
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